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Boulder is about to get “f”ed. ~ Rob Jackson

by on May 22, 2013

Just past noon as the sun soared high I walked away from the Boulder Courthouse, addled with camera gear, feeling small as a gnat. Heck, the whole of Boulder was but a gnat under the commissioners’ gavel—the “f”word* had just been slammed down on us. *Heretoforth, all instances of the “f” word are in reference [...]

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Hey, Uncle Sam! Bank on Students to Stabilize Our Economy. ~ Sarah Rosenberg

by on May 21, 2013

Student loan repayment:  a modern-day debtors’ prison? Today’s students in the United States owe a combined total of over a trillion dollars in educational debt, more familiarly known as student loans. For those of you not accustomed to working with trillions, a trillion dollars is a thousand million dollars, and this figure represents more than [...]

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Morning Decaf with a Big Surly Biker.

by on May 19, 2013

“I like my coffee black, my beer from Germany, wine from Burgundy, the darker, the better. I like my heroes complicated and brooding, James Dean in oiled leather, leaning on a motorcycle. You know the color. (“Ode to Chocolate”)” ~  Barbara Crooker I had decaf with a biker this morning—an ominous and quite surly sort [...]

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Animal Crushing: What it Is & Why We Have to Look. ~ Stephanie Vessely

by on May 19, 2013

We don’t show up on our mats and cushions so we can stay asleep, we do it so we can look at what arises. This week Houston Press ran a cover story entitled, “Open Season: Do Laws Against Animal Crushing Videos Violate Free Speech?” It details the recent story about Ashley Nicole Richards and Brent [...]

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Dr. Lou, Energy Healer. {Video} ~ David Foster

by on May 18, 2013

This is a comedy skit about an energy healer, who is also an acupuncturist, Reiki therapist, MD, chiropractor, chakra healer, wizard and oh yeah…. a total pervert. It is part of a pilot I shot where the intention is to be somewhat to the world of holistic medicine and new age philosophy what Jon Stewart [...]

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Meet Rob Ford, Toronto’s (Allegedly Crack-Smoking) Mayor.

by on May 18, 2013

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been in office for 900 days; in that time, he has wreaked havoc on this beautiful city that I call home. It’s no secret that he isn’t, ahem, widely cherished and loved, in the City of Toronto, especially amongst anyone that has a heart beat. He’s done a lot of [...]

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Notes Toward a Politics of Forgiveness.

by on May 18, 2013

Ultimately, forgiveness means letting go of this world, a darkened, fractured glass through which we see love only dimly. As our frightened grip on all that is temporary relaxes, we will increasingly find our authentic strength in that which is timeless, boundless, inexhaustible, and omnipresent. Heaven is learned, not simply entered with religion’s passport.

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The Power of Words.

by on May 17, 2013

“Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, ‘It might have been.” ― John Greenleaf Whittier I read through some of my older blog postings just the other day—and was amazed at what I had found. You see, some many months back I had created a ‘bucket list’ of sorts—a few [...]

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Climate Change. ~ Jenna Penielle Lyons

by on May 16, 2013

But the Dalai Lama said that we should first detach ourselves from the situation in order to become objective. Forget about politics. Forget about money. Forget about territory, borders, or ego. Become objective and look at the world from the standpoint of a steward–a steward who regards his or her immediate surroundings with an insurmountable level of love and care.

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Why I Write for elephant. ~ Michelle Marchildon

by on May 16, 2013

Whenever I travel or teach in foreign places, like Canada, or Boulder, people want to know the same thing: Why do I write for elephant journal? When I published “Finding More,” I thought the public may want to know if it was true (yes). And when I published “Theme Weaver,” I thought they may want [...]

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The real message of love.

by on May 16, 2013

Thich Nhat Hanh, with guidance along the confusing path through joy and suffering that is this precious human birth. “There is no enlightenment outside of daily life.” “When we walk like (we are rushing), we print anxiety and sorrow on the earth. We have to walk in a way that we only print peace and [...]

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What Are You Willing to Die For? ~ Edith Lazenby

by on May 15, 2013

Source: gallery.mobile9.com via mobile9 on Pinterest And what do you live for? I have been watching Tudors, the story of Henry VIII. It is a bit much, but engaging at the same time. Let’s just say I am hooked. Two men die for their beliefs. Two men die for their soul. As I watched, this [...]

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Sweet Shakti, Mother Nature. ~ Mandy Kondo

by on May 10, 2013

I’m a hopeless theorizer. That’s a word I thought I might have made up, but Google and its free online dictionary friends inform me that it’s legit.  What I mean is that my mind will work and work to come up with theories—big or small, borrowed or original, elegant or disastrous—to explain, well, everything. I [...]

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12 Awesome Funny Inspiring Amazing or Important Things.

by on May 3, 2013

Weekly Link Roundup: Via founding editor Waylon Lewis. “America needs to reallocate its food subsidies”: 63% goes directly or indirectly to the meat and dairy industries. Less than 1% goes to fruit and vegetable cultivation. Less than 2% goes to nut and legume cultivation. (usmfreepress.org) When you feel like you need something, but you can’t [...]

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Why I Refuse to Watch the Dove Sketch-Artist Video. ~ Melissa Block

by on May 3, 2013

A couple of young fish swim along in the vast sea one fine day. An old fish swims the other way and greets the young fish. “How’s the water?” he asks them. The two young fish look at each other, confused. “What’s water?” they ask. After a week of being exhorted to watch the Dove [...]

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Are We Making Any Fracking Sense Yet?

by on May 3, 2013

The Governor’s 10 year old son says his Dad’s job is easier than his 5th grade homework: all his Dad has to do is an easy 4 step process: 1) Get the Facts; 2) Make a Decision, 3) Check; and step #4) Next! “.

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Rainin’ On Dubya’s Parade.

by on May 1, 2013

“We’ve had enough Bushes.”~ Barbara Bush on the Today Show “Ain’t it the truth! Ain’t it the truth!”~ Burt Lahr, as the Cowardly Lion So, the man who is in serious competition with James Buchanan for being remembered as the worst, most insanely incompetent chief-executive in the archives of humanity finally has his own library? [...]

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Do Religious Traditions Condone Animal Suffering? ~ Mariann Sullivan & Jasmin Singer

by on Apr 23, 2013

The way to live the message of compassion that underlies each of these traditions is to truly extend that compassion to animals. With 84 percent of Americans identifying as religious, and 97 percent agreeing that animals deserve protection from harm and exploitation, why do so many religions continue to ignore, or even encourage, practices that [...]

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Why we don’t care about the environment even though we care about our environment; or, how to save the world without really trying.

by on Apr 22, 2013

Bonus: Waylon’s Earth Day interview with Frances Moore Lappe.   Below, I try to just, you know, figure out everything all in one blog and solve our international crisis of inspiration and environment for us. The Problem? We all care about our environment but not enough or in the right way and this planet is [...]

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A Look at How Yoga Became a Tool for Women’s Empowerment & Activism: An Interview with Kate Clere McIntyre of Yogawoman.

by on Apr 22, 2013

Feminism and yoga changed my life. In fact, I often credit them for saving my life and they just so happened to come into my life around the same time. For me, both feminism and yoga are synonymous for freedom, and I see them as the keys to liberation. It’s why the film Yogawoman resonated with [...]

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We Run Together. ~ Emanuelle Honnorat

by on Apr 18, 2013

So today I am proud to be an American even if just on paper. My four years in Boston showed me the strength and hardiness of Bostonians and all Americans. I don’t only want to be there for the good times Boston, but I want to be there with you now too. I want to sit in a room with you and hold you, watch you, carry you and no word need be uttered.

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Obama is Pissed.

by on Apr 17, 2013

90% of Americans. Update: Gabby Giffords’ powerful op-ed in the NY Times: “They looked at these most benign and practical of solutions, offered by moderates from each party, and then they looked over their shoulder at the powerful, shadowy gun lobby — and brought shame on themselves and our government itself by choosing to do [...]

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Shame on you, Erik Rush: “Muslims are evil. Let’s kill them all.”

by on Apr 16, 2013

Shame on you, Erik Rush: “Muslims are evil. Let’s kill them all.” You are promoting the environment that creates these tragedies.  Give me a call: I’d love to meet you on skype and talk about how we can do better than ignorance bred of TV-hungry, insecure, un-American aggression. The Best thing for Corporate-owned News & [...]

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Losing the Battle Against the 7 Deadly Sins. ~ Nichole Gould

by on Apr 12, 2013

Source: piccsy.com via Justine’s Halloween on Pinterest   The darkness often seems to overpower the light: pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth. Are the seven deadly sins winning the fight? As a writer and conscious human, I am trying to broaden my horizons beyond my little bubble of safety, to stay informed about [...]

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The Magical People. ~ Lauren Wessinger

by on Apr 10, 2013

Blessed are the weird people Poets Misfits Writers Mystics Painters Troubadours For they teach us to see the world through different eyes I adore this quote by Jacob Nordby. It resonates with me. I know it resonates with you too. Tell me if you’re out there. Are you the one not described in this inspired [...]

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Why the Gun Control Debate Doesn’t Matter. ~ Stephanie Vessely

by on Apr 7, 2013

We have never really been safe. And we never will be. Last week a task force funded by the NRA outlined recommendations for improving school safety. The package is being called the National School Shield Program, and is led by Asa Hutchinson, a former Republican representative for the NRA. The program outlines eight recommendations, including [...]

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Bicameral Task Force Tackles Climate Change. ~ Marcia Yerman

by on Apr 7, 2013

It’s only April, and already the push back against environmental concerns is evident. Superstorm Sandy is old news, except for those still picking up the pieces of disaster. At the forefront of bringing awareness to all things green is Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), who serves as a ranking Democratic member of the House Energy and [...]

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With Nation’s Eyes Elsewhere, President Obama Signs Monsanto Protection Act into Law. ~ Kevin Macku

by on Mar 27, 2013

While we were out changing our Facebook profile photos; while we were listening to every scrap of information from the Supreme Court like it was teasers from the next season of Girls or Downton Abbey; while we talked and debated and de-friended anyone with views opposing our own about gay marriage left after the Chik-fil-A Issue, President Obama signed into law HR 933, including last-minute amendments dubbed “The Monsanto Protection Act.”

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With Liberty & Justice for All?

by on Mar 27, 2013

“In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of [...]

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Senate Votes in Favor of Dirty Tar Sands Pipeline, Senators Supporting Keystone XL Received Nearly $31 Million from Fossil Fuel Industry.

by on Mar 24, 2013

From our friends at EcoWatch. The U.S. Senate voted in support of the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline on Friday, which would deepen our dependence on tar sands oil from Canada. The measure, introduced by Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), signifies yet another attempt by Republicans to pressure President Obama to approve the TransCanada permit [...]

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Writing as Playing Around.

by on Mar 17, 2013

My college major was among the most rigorous on the planet. Based on the Oxford Philosophy, Politics, and Economics course, we had one 5-7 page paper due every Friday of our sophomore year.  Other students referred to the College of Social Studies, as it was officially titled, as the “college of suicidal sophomores.” My first [...]

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Jeb Bush: “My guess is that history is going to be kind to my brother.” ~ Tom Degan

by on Mar 15, 2013

Source: biography.com via University on Pinterest Here comes Jebby. Anyone who was still in doubt about John E. “Jeb” Bush’s presidential aspirations for the year 2016 had those doubts shattered last weekend during his media blitz on the Sunday morning talk programs. There he was plugging his new book, coming out strongly against a “path [...]

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The War on Your Stomach: Why You Eat Twinkies & Coke. ~ Sean Williams

by on Mar 6, 2013

  No matter how strict our diets or strong our wills, all of us have at some time known the gluttonous animal pleasures of a favorite processed, mass-marketed food product, guaranteed to trigger the perfect level of stimulation to the taste buds, the carefully calibrated feel on the teeth and tongue, the ideal signals of [...]

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“Hugo Chavez, these are my 10 reasons why I will not miss you.”

by on Mar 5, 2013

A sentiment we all can agree upon: “Best of luck to Venezuela. I hope the future is bright for them.” Some positive. Some critical but fair. “This comment on CNN is well put. Kudos to the writer. For the too lazy to go over to CNN, here it is.” ~ A Redditor “Rest in peace, [...]

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Sequestration & A Man with Foresight: Peter G. Peterson. ~ Edith Lazenby

by on Mar 4, 2013

Source: f4a.tv via My Lap Shop on Pinterest On August 4th, 2010, Peter G. Peterson was one of the 40 billionaires, along with Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, who agreed to give money to the government. In 2011, he gave our government $458 million dollars; the money went to Social Security and other safety net [...]

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So the Pope’s Quitting. What Now?

by on Mar 4, 2013

Source: google.com via Barbara on Pinterest Recently Joseph Ratzinger, the Pope of the Catholic Church, announced that he was resigning at the end of February. Ignoring the conspiracy theories that have been floating around as to why the pope is resigning for a moment, I think it’s important to examine what this might mean for [...]

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Yoga Rising: Waking Up To The Consciousness Shift. ~ David Dodd

by on Feb 27, 2013

Whatever our doorway to yoga—whatever our reason for going to class—as we practice, yoga wakes us up. It wakes us up in a way that is intensely political; not in the old sense of the politics of left or right, liberal or conservative, but in a new sense that is exquisitely personal. Yoga practice brings [...]

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10 Things I Find Sexy About Me. ~ Maggie McReynolds

by on Feb 25, 2013

I loved Melanie Curtin’s “10 Things I Find Sexy in a Man” and Damien Bohler’s “10 Things I Find Sexy in a Woman.” But since everything in my world is all about me (just as I hope your world is about you), I wondered: can one recognize and really appreciate sexiness in another without first [...]

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